Self-opening portfolio



Feb. 13, 1940. H. 1.. THARP 2,190,090

SELF-OPENING PORTFOLIO Fi1ed Sept. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENT OR.

BY HARRY L EAR/=2 Feb. 13, 1940. H, L, THARP 2,190,090

SELF-OPENING PORTFOLIO Filed Sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. Y HAR Y L. 7394RP- Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES- This invention relates to aportable, self opening portfolio and display case and is more particularly designed for use by salesmen in displaying catalogues and other sales matter to pro- 5 spective purchasers; l

The principal object of the invention is to pro vide a neat, compact, easily portable portfolio which can be placed upon a desk, table or other supporting object and released to automatically 9 open to display matter contained therein, at the most convenient angle for view of the prospect.

Another object of the invention istosoconstruct the device that either a single display board or a double binder of sheets of material will be simultaneously exposed when the portfolio opens.

Other objects and advantages residein the detail construction of the inventiomwhich is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency;

20 These will become more apparent from the fol lowing description. I In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had; to the accompanying drawings which form a part'hereof. Like-n11 25 merals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the'portfolio in" theclcsed position. 1 30 Fig. 2 is aperspective view thereof in the open position illustrating the device displaying a com-w p-lete opened binder of material simultaneously.

Fig. 3 is a similar perspective view illustrating playing a single sheet or display board. i

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the close portfolio, taken on the lined-4, Fig. 1.

5 is a detail view of one of the spring.

hinges.

40 Fig. 6 is a detail View showing the attaching slides on the binder.

The invention comprises two outer case mem hers it and H joined to each other by mean's of a self-opening spring hinge 12.

by means of flexible sides I3 which carrya zipper fastener I4 along their edges. The case mem-- bers are held in the closed position of Fig. 1

bymeans of the zipper slide fastener 2-1 and...

the device in the partiallyopen position for dis--.

The case" 45 members l and H are completely surrounded hinge plate 16 by means of-a spring hinge ll.

The spring hinges l2 and W are both constantly urged toward the open position by means of coiled hinge springs 2|. I H The movable hinge .plate is formed with two tongues 30 which are removably received in suitable slides 29 upon a binder'back board it. A second binder back board I 9 ishinged to the first board l8 by means of a standard loose leaf binder hinge 20 to which any desired pages or 10 leaves 26 may be attached; A latch plate 22 is attached at the corner of the case member II. The latch plate carries a latch rod 23 which may be slidably mounted thereon upon a slide rivet 24." This mounting enables the rod 23 to be slid back and forth into and out of 'engagement with a receiving sleeve 28 secured adjacent the corner of the binder board l9; By this construction, the two binder boards"I8 and 15 may if desired be secured to both case members, the'board l8 being secured to the springhinge l1, and the board it being detachablysecured by means of the latch rod23'.

The opening movement of the hinge i2 is lim-a ited by the surface upon which the portfolio rests. The amount ofopening of'the hinge H is limited by means of one ormore stop tongues 25 which "are'turn'ed outwardly from the hinge I! r to engage each other when thebinder i8 is at the: correct open angle.

To closethe device from the position of Fig.2, the user presses the loose leaf binder boards downwardly into the case members, swings the two case members closed and locks them by means'of the" zipper slide 27;

:. Torelease thedevice for display purposes, it isonly necessary for the operator to release the zipper fastener. 'This allows the spring 12 to throw the two case members'open and simultaneously thespringhinge l-'lelevates the binder 40 boards I 8-49 to the'positionof Fig. 2.

i It may, not be desired to immediately display theopen binder, in which case, the board 59 can be released from the case member H by simply releasing the latch 23. Then, when the case opens, ithebinder will rise tothe position of Fig.

,3 to display-the back'of thebinder board H,

which may. carry any desired display material. The board I can then be. swung to the open position whenever desired.

It will be noted that the pages 26 in the binders 20 can be turned without interference after the binder has been opened to the position. of Fig. 2. The quick and instant opening of the device makes a very attractive attention commander 56 satisfactory.. The binder may alsobe of any material provided the back boards l8 and I9 are of sufficient rigidity to support themselves in the open position. While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having. thus described the invention, what is ,7

claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is: 1. A self-opening portfolio comprising: two

case members; a first hinge member securing said case members together; spring means for opening said first hinge member; an upstanding edge around each case member which when said 1 case members are brought together forms a complete enclosure; latching means for securing said case members together; a pair of hinged-together binder boards; a second hinge member securing the bottom edge of one of said boards to one of said case members at right angles to the first hinge member, the hinge between the binder the completely closed, sealed position; a first hinge member securing said two case members together; a second hingemember secured to one case member and extending at right angles to the first hinge member; a pair of binder boards; a third hinge member connecting said boards together, one of said boards being secured to said second hinge member; spring means for opening said second hinge member; meansfor limiting the amount of opening thereof; and means for securing the other binder board to the other case member.

3. A self-opening portfolio comprising: two case members having upstanding edges around their periphery; a fastener around said upstanding edges for securing the two case members in the completely closed, sealed position; a first hinge member securing said two case members together; a second hinge member secured to one case member and extending at right angles to the first hinge member; a pair of binder boards;-

a third hinge member connecting said boards together, one of said boards being secured to said second hinge member; spring means for opening said second hingemember; means for limiting the amount of opening thereof; and a latch member on the other case member for detachably engaging the other binder board so that when the two case members are opened said binder will also be opened.

4. A self-opening portfolio comprising: two case members having upstanding edges around their periphery; a fastener around said upstanding edges for securing the two case members in the completely closed, sealed position; a first hinge member securing said two case members together; a second hinge member secured to one case member and extending at right angles to the first hinge member; a pair of binder boards; a third hinge member connecting said boards together, one of said boards being secured to said second hinge member; spring means for opening said second hinge member; means for limiting the amount of opening thereof; and spring means for opening said first hinge member.

5. A self-opening display portfolio comprising: a binder hinge; two back boards on said binder hinge; a case consisting of two hinged together case members; edge members around the periphery of each case member; a hinge for securing thetwocase members together; a fastening device for securing the two case members together; a spring hinge securing one board of said binder to one'of said case members so that when said case is opened said board will be elevated; and a detachable fastening device securing the other board of said binder to the other one of said case members so that said binder will be opened simultaneously with the opening of said case members when desired.

6. A-self-opening display portfolio comprising: a binder hinge; two back boards on said binder hinge; a case consisting of two hinged together case members; edge members around the periphery of each case member; a hinge for securing the two case members together; a fastening device for securing the two case members together; a spring hinge secured to one extremity of one of said case members; and means for detachably securing one of said back boards to said spring hinge.

'7. A self-opening display portfolio comprising: a binder hinge; two back boards on said binder hinge; a case consisting of two hinged together case members; edge members around the periphery of each case member;'a hinge for securing the two case members together; a fastening device for securing the two case members together; a spring hinge secured to one extremity of one of said case members; means for detachably securing one of said back boards to said spring hinge; tongues extending from said spring hinge; and tongue receiving members secured to one of said'back boards for attaching the latter to said spring hinge.

8. A self-opening display portfolio comprising: a binder hinge; two back boards on said binder hinge; a case consisting of two hinged. together case members; edge members around the periphery of each case member; a hinge for securing the two case members together; a spring hinge securing one board of said binder'to one of said case members so that when said case is opened said board will be elevated; a latch plate secured to the other case member; a latch rod sliclably mounted on said latch plate; a receiving sleeve secured on the other binder board to engage the said latch rod.

. HARRY L. TI-IARP. 

